A recent article by The Athletic’s Candace Buckner has sparked debate over whether the Indiana Fever should part ways with outspoken player Sophie Cunningham. The article suggests the Fever would benefit from not re-signing Cunningham for the upcoming season, citing both basketball and non-basketball reasons. Buckner argues that Cunningham serves as a distraction to the team amidst Caitlin Clark’s growing prominence.
Addressing this issue, Cunningham appeared on the “No Hesitation” podcast with co-host Drew Hanlen. Hanlen referred to Buckner’s article as an “absolute hate piece” and detailed Cunningham’s value as a bench player during the past season. He highlighted her performance, noting her contribution as one of the top five bench scorers and top five 3-point shooters in the WNBA.
Cunningham responded briefly to the article’s criticism during the podcast. She stated, “I literally don’t even care what anyone says about me anymore because I’ve said this so many times, ‘If you’re going to live by the praise, you’re going to die by the hate.'” She emphasized her commitment to focusing on her game, saying, “I know what I bring to the table. It’s not always in the stat sheet.”
Cunningham has been at the center of controversy previously due to comments she made in an ESPN article. She expressed support for banning transgender women and girls from female sports, drawing criticism. “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that. I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth,” Cunningham clarified during the podcast.
Buckner’s article suggests that moving on from Cunningham could help the Fever steer clear of unnecessary dramas, allowing them to focus on their WNBA competitiveness. She also mentioned potential teams for Cunningham, such as the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, the league’s newest teams.
This past season, Cunningham averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. Her future with the Fever remains uncertain as the team looks to build around its star players, Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston.